Issue 2 – Hair Grooming & Style

by Wendy Lee

Question 1:

Hi Caitlyn! I am doing my final year in college now & preparing to enter the corporate world. I kept hearing people talk about dressing professionally. So, how about hairstyle? Is there any guideline one should adhere to?

W.C. Wong

Caitlyn says:

Just like a men’s wardrobe, hairstyles for men need to be able to fit all occasions - from office to nightclubs; from formal occasions to football games.

Today’s trends run toward layered, short hairstyles. These short hairstyles for men are highly versatile and can work with every situation. Use layers and bangs to soften harsh edges and layering and parts to mask round or oval faces.

Short hairstyles for men should do both office and fun time equally well. For a more tailored look use a small amount of mousse on dry hair and comb neatly. Part your hair to one side and neatly comb the hair back on each side. This hairstyle is well suited for longer layered hair or thick wavy hair and portrays a neat, conservative look.

To take the same hairstyle and make it more fun, apply gel with your fingers to wet hair. Run your fingers through your hair in different directions to get a slightly tussled look.

In short, to project professionalism, your hairstyle needs to be neat and kept away from your face. Any style with long bangs covering part of the face will just make you look sloppy & unprofessional.

A word from Wendy:

Don’ t be a walking porcupine. Keep spikes to the minimum, especially your sideburns. Think Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest. They are worth millions.

Question 2:

I have long hair; the length is halfway down my back. As I am a working professional, specifically in the Customer Service Department, I need to have my hair tied up. I have no idea how to groom my hair to look professional yet not too conservative. Please advice.

Suzanna M.

Caitlyn says:

A quick and easy way to style your hair for work is a sleek ponytail using your own hair to conceal the ponytail holder. Brush your hair back into a ponytail using hair gel to ensure that every strand is evenly pulled back. Tie your ponytail using a hair-coloured ponytail holder. Grab a small section of your hair in the ponytail and wrap it around the ponytail holder so that it gives the illusion that you tied your ponytail back using your own hair. Discreetly secure the hair using a bobby pin underneath the ponytail and cover with lots of hairspray.

Certain side parts can also add flair and a sense of the professional, complementing a business suit or any formal attire.

The great thing about long hair is that it can be worn in a variety of ways. You can make long hair look more formal by styling it with various products designed to control volume and frizz as well as add texture and curls with hot rollers. Long hair that drops below the shoulders can be pinned back, put in a bun or worn in a sleek, professional ponytail for a sophisticated office look. Using low key hair accessories can let you have an elegance up-do for the office and still maintain an air of professionalism while knowing your hair looks its very best.

A word from Wendy:

Crowning glory or grandma perm? Your hair needs to look healthy and shiny all the time. So, no split ends, no dandruffs, no baby hair falling everywhere. And keep your hair away from your forehead, even if you have uneven eyebrows. And if you are Asian, forget about dying your hair blond.

Question 3:

Currently I am working as a secretary to the General Manager for a large corporation. I have a sleek bob hairstyle ala Eva Longoria. My hair is originally black & it looks kind of boring & conservative. So I plan to dye my hair.  Do you have any recommendation about what colour should I wear so that I can still look professional yet stylish? Does hair colour make any difference in terms of career advancement?

Fr: Tan Wei Ling

We have all seen guys and girls with the ‘style of the moment’, be that of a Mohawk haircut, spikes, streaks, hair with wild colours including fire engine red, jet black, royal purple, etc.  

First impressions being as important as they are, your hair colour can either make you or break you!

For Asian complexion, the safest choice will be to wear hair colour in darker tones. Also, darker hair is perceived to be more professional. The best example will be the stereotyping of ‘Dumb Blondes’. Consistent to that theory, the lighter your hair colour, the less knowledgeable you are perceived to be. Therefore, the best selections will be shades of Brown, Copper & Auburn. Refer to the chart below, shade 3.0 to 7.1 .

A word from Wendy:

Your hair grows. So once you have made up your mind to colour your hair, make sure your look is consistent. Dark hair roots are an ugly sight. It makes you look unkempt, ungroomed, unprofessional.  Enough said.